Adama Tells Her Story...

Salifu Adama is a 14 years old student of Kanda Estate 1 Primary.She joined the school last year and she is now in class 6.According to Adama,her mother suggested that she comes to live with her grandmother.She lived in Ayikuma so she attended Ayikuma Islamic School before coming to Kanda Estate 1 Primary school.She currently resides at Kanda(Ruga).How is life now at Ruga?I asked....eerrmm still trying to know the place but it has been fun.

Adama goes on to run me through a typical day in her life.As a student,she wakes up at 5am to start her chores before taking her bath.She will then take her breakfast if time is not far spent.Her favourite which is hausa koko with koose just helps her start her day right.Neatly dressed in her "konkonte" uniform,she will briskly walk to school.She will then help clean the compound and prepare for morning assembly.After morning assembly lessons begin.In between lessons,they go for breaks.

The first break is "school sponsored" as a result of the school feeding programme.Adama recalls a food that was served.The food was not properly cooked.According to her "there were some particles in the food served.Her mood changed when the question of- whether she likes the food?was posed.She answered;I don't but i have no option.Now the second part of the break is on the students.Adama's grandmother can only afford 1cedi a day.Out of that 1cedi,she tries to satisfy herself.I got very emotional during this part of her narration.

I had the opportunity to go to her class.Immediately I entered all the students stood up and in a chorus greeted"you're welcome sir";I responded "Thank you".At the time of my visit Adama's class teacher was not around.So I took advantage of the situation  to ask the class what they think of Adama.Students:sir,sir,sir....then I called Khareem who is so far the most sociable and jovial in the class.This what he had to say"Sir I think Adama is an intelligent girl,very kind but I don't like the fact that she's too shy".The whole class burst into laughter and cheered him on.

At the sound of the school's bell for closing,Adama will quickly ran home to help her grandmother to sell her purewater.Then she will assist in preparing dinner.After dinner she will do her homework if there is any.Her favourite subjects are english,mathematics and science.

She loves her school because she thinks the teachers are committed.Adama will love to attend St.Pauls Lutheran school but sadly said I can't afford their fees.Adama Salifu wants to become a medical doctor in future.My simple question is that-is Adama getting the right foundation,considering her school?My reason for getting Salifu Adama to tell her story is to compare the typical life of a students of Kanda Estate 1 primary school and the perceived life of those students from Morning Star school,St.Pauls Lutheran school, Ridge Church school and the likes.I believe there is still hope ;the likes of Salifu Adama are living their lifes to bridge the gap.All hail the medical doctor of our generation "Salifu Adama"

Adama  In Action. Picture by  Prosper Mawuli Dagba

Adama's  Class. Picture Credit;Prosper  Mawuli Dagba

Adama  Salifu. Picture By Prosper  Mawuli  Dagba

Profile Of "The Mother" Of Kanda Estate 1 Primary

Mrs Dorothy Appiah was born on 5th March 1956 to Mr Solomon Appiah and Agnes Appiah all of blessed memory.She is a Koforidua flower.She lived in Koforidua and had her early education at Koforidua Presbyterian Primary A school in 1963.In 1969 after attempting the common entrance,she passed to the secondary school.In the same year she gained admission into Asamankese secondary school.Life was tough within this period so she was repeated.She completed in 1975.

According to madam Appiah,after secondary school her father applied to teachers college at Akropong Presbyterian Training College.She attained post-secondary certificate in 1978.Her first posting was to Nsawam Presbyterian school.According to her;Nsawam Presbyterian school gave her some teaching experience.

In her quest to practise what she has learnt,she found "Mr Right" and got married in 1980.Marriage life was smooth as she said until the year 1984 when she divorced her husband.After the divorce she wanted to try something new aside teaching;so in 1985 she paused teaching to try hair dressing.According to her,it was a success till there was a massive change in hair styles.Since she could not keep up to the pace,she had to back out.She later realised that teaching was her only hope.Without hesitation,she went back into full time teaching in 1986 at Kotoku near Nsawam.She got married again in 1990.

Mrs.Appiah has some qualification to her credit.She went for a diploma course at University of Education Winneba where she studied social studies and special education.She completed in 1996.In 2001 and 2002 she had a sandwich course at the same university in order to attain her first degree.This gave her the opportunity to upgrade herself in the teaching profession.

A collage of Mrs Dorothy Appiah's pictures in her office

In 2008 she was promoted to Assistant Director 2 after her interview at Ayawaso circuit.Within this period she became headmistress of Kanda Estate 1 primary.As the headmistress,she has a couple of roles to play.Some of which are attending meetings on behalf of the school,keeping records,making sure the teachers are doing their work well.Her husband died in 2012.

 Her favourite meal was rice with stew not until she tasted kontomire stew with plantain,her preference changed.Aside teaching,madam Dorothy Appiah doubles as a gospel musician.Her decision was after her promise to God for a successful operation.She has five albums and a video to her credit.She is a staunch christian and a member of Hope Presby at Sakumono.According to Mrs.Appiah hardwork and continous prayers have brought her this far and she couldn't have done anything else aside teaching.Mrs.Dorothy Appiah is a beautiful woman inside out.Her genuine smiles drives away anger.She is indeed a wonderful woman.

In her office

Picture by:Prosper Mawuli Dagba

Facilities At Kanda Estate 1 Primary.

  Just when I thought there was some hope for the 21st century child and student,Kanda Estate 1 primary school shattered that hope.For most people who found themselves in primary schools with all facilities in place were probably singing a different song from that of pupils of Kanda Estate 1 primary school.A school which is twenty-five or so years is still lacking some major facilities to help run the school.

An interview session with the headmistress.Picture by Maud Fadi

    It was exactly 1:00 pm when I found myself in the office of the headmistress of the school.Thinking I will be welcomed into a comfortable office was just a dream.The heat from the office could even boil an egg.Though there was a ceiling fan in her office,she still had to fan herself to feel comfortable.As if that was not enough,she has no computer in her office.Asked how she records important information and data;this what she had to say..."I write them in a book" there was total silence in her office after her answer;then we both laughed.


 Is there a computer lab in the school? Oooh yes!there is.The computer lab that has only ten computers and filled with nothing but dust.The computer lab according to the headmistress is used by all the eleven(11) or so schools in the cluster."I don't remember the last time the computer lab was opened" she added. I later went to one of the six classrooms and to my surprise,the teacher's table was in a bad state.Three pupils had to share a desk and the only cupboard in the classroom was really bad.Then the biggest surprise of all was the fact that they had no canteen so have to manage to eat in their various classrooms.The worst of all was the stench from the gutters in front of the classrooms.Asked why the awful stench?The headmistress worriedly said "Because the toilet was locked,pupils had to use the gutters as their urinal" then I finally found myself at the " Almighty Toilet".The outter look alone told the whole awful story.There are no bins,rubbish scattered all over and they have to burn the rubbish without a chinery in the school.


 From 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm,I did not find anything impressive with respect to facilities than the warm nature of both teachers and pupils.The headmistress's final words were that"I just need a bus for the school". Talking about facilities at Kanda Estate 1 primary school reminds me of my visit to Ridge Church school.The school's compound was beautiful,the classrooms were awesome,the office of the headmistress was wonderful.This observation just leaves one question in mind..."Where did Kanda Estate 1 primary go wrong".

Picture by Prosper Mawuli Dagba

Toilet Area, picture by Prosper Mawuli Dagba